Marco Borriello netted both goals as AC Milan moved up to fourth in Serie A with victory over Parma at the San Siro tonight.

Borriello was the Rossoneri's hero in a lacklustre clash between two sides who showed more tiredness than lucidity in their third game in six days.

Borriello opened the scoring in the 12th minute and added the winner in stoppage time to give Milan the best possible result in preparation for the visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Milan perhaps had an eye on that clash but that did not tempt coach Leonardo into making any unnecessary changes to his team.

The in-form Ronaldinho kept his place in attack, where Borriello replaced Filippo Inzaghi with Luca Antonini in for the suspended Ignazio Abate.

Parma lined up with Paloschi, who is half-owned by Milan, leading their attack alongside Valeri Bojinov.

And Paloschi had the first chance of the game in the 10th minute with a fine dipping shot from 25 yards that needed a fingertip save from Dida to divert onto the crossbar.

Milan went ahead from their first attack of the game two minutes later, with Ronaldinho given the freedom to cover 50 yards before threading the ball, via a deflection, into the path of Borriello, who placed his shot between the legs of Antonio Mirante.

Parma still looked dangerous, with Bojinov forcing a fine save out of Dida to keep the Rossoneri ahead in the 23rd minute.

Pato should have doubled Milan's lead after half an hour but he lacked the conviction to reach Massimo Oddo's cross from eight yards out and his tame header went wide of the far post.

Daniele Galloppa should have done better at the other end when he was found himself free in the penalty area but his shot was weak and straight at Dida.

It seemed like nobody was really determined to score as Borriello allowed the next chance to go begging when he just stood pondering his options rather than shooting with only Mirante to beat after he was found by Ronaldinho.

Milan should have had a penalty in the 69th minute when Pato slipped the ball between two Parma defenders and was tripped by Francesco Lunardini as he tried to follow the ball through but the referee waved play on.

That decision almost proved costly for Milan, who saw Paloschi break through at the other end and volley just wide.

But Parma simply did not have the ideas or the strength to make a game of it in a tedious second half in which Milan looked to conserve energy for their midweek Champions League game and Parma showed they are not used to having to play three games in a week.

Thiago Silva almost wrapped up the win three minutes from time when he headed against the crossbar from point-blank range.

Borriello did seal the win in stoppage time with a scissor-kick goal from another Ronaldinho assist.

Do You Know ?

May 5 is Franco Baresi's birthday, great 'captain' of Milan. Happy birthday Franco!Twenty six years dedicated to the Rossoneri's cause, wearing for 716 times the Milan shirt, playing indifferently Champions Cups final and Serie B games.A reason which is enough to be elected Milanista of the century. Best wishes of a happy birthday from all the Rossoneri to the 'Captain' of the most succesful club in the world.